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whose pale countenance and dejected look told how many sad hours she
had passed since parting with her mother at Natchez。 There； too； was a
poor woman who had been separated from her husband； and another
woman； whose looks and manners were expressive of deep anguish； sat by
her side。 There was 〃Uncle Jeems；〃 with his whiskers off； his face
shaven clean； and the gray hairs plucked out； ready to be sold for ten years
younger than he was。 Toby was also there； with his face shaven and
greased； ready for inspection。
The examination commenced； and was carried on in such a manner as
to shock the feelings of any one not entirely devoid of the milk of human
kindness。
〃What are you wiping your eyes for？〃 inquired a far； red…faced man；
with a white hat set on one side of his head and a cigar in his mouth； of a
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woman who sat on one of the benches。
〃Because I left my man behind。〃
〃Oh； if I buy you； I will furnish you with a better man than you left。
I've got lots of young bucks on my farm。〃
〃I don't want and never will have another man；〃 replied the woman。
〃What's you name？〃 asked a man in a straw hat of a tall negro who
stood with his arms folded across his breast； leaning against the wall。
〃My name is Aaron； sar。〃
〃How old are you？〃
〃Twenty…five。〃
〃Where were you raised？〃
〃In old Virginny； sar。〃
〃How many men have owned you？〃
〃Four。〃
〃Do you enjoy good health？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
〃How long did you live with your first owner？〃
〃Twenty years。〃
〃Did you ever run away？〃
〃No； sar。〃
〃Did you ever strike your master？〃
〃No； sar。〃
〃Were you ever whipped much？〃
〃No； sar； I s'pose I didn't desarve it； sar。〃
〃How long did you live with your second master？〃
〃Ten years； sar。〃
〃Have you a good appetite？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
〃Can you eat your allowance？〃
〃Yes； sar；when I can get it。〃
〃Where were you employed in Virginia？〃
〃I worked de tobacker fiel'。〃
〃In the tobacco field； eh？〃
〃Yes； sar。〃
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〃How old did you say you was？〃
〃Twenty…five； sar； nex' sweet…'tater…diggin' time。〃
〃I am a cotton…planter； and if I buy you； you will have to work in the
cotton…field。 My men pick one hundred and fifty pounds a day； and the
women one hundred and forty pounds； and those who fail to perform their
task receive five stripes for each pound that is wanting。 Now； do you
think you could keep up with the rest of the hands？〃
〃I don't know； sar； but I 'specs I'd have to。〃
〃How long did you live with your third master？〃
〃Three years； sar。〃
〃Why； that makes you thirty…three。 I thought you told me you were
only twenty…five？〃
Aaron now looked first at the planter； then at the trader； and seemed
perfectly bewildered。 He had forgotten the lesson given him by Pompey
relative to his age； and the planter's circuitous questionsdoubtless to find
out the slave's real age had thrown the negro off his guard。
〃I must see you back； so as to know how much you have been
whipped； before I think of buying。〃
Pompey； who had been standing by during the examination； thought
that his services were now required； and； stepping forth with a degree of
officiousness； said to Aaron；
〃Don't you hear de gemman tell you he wants to 'zamin you。 Cum；
unharness yo'seff； ole boy； and don't be standin' dar。〃
Aaron was soon examined； and pronounced 〃sound；〃 yet the
conflicting statement about his age was not satisfactory。
Fortunately for Marion； she was spared the pain of undergoing such an
examination。 Mr。 Cardney； a teller in one of the banks； had just been
married； and wanted a maid…servant for his wife； and； passing through the
market in the early part of the day； was pleased with the young slave's
appearance； and his dwelling the quadroon found a much better home than
often falls to the lot of a slave sold in the New Orleans market。
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CHAPTER VII
THE SLAVE…HOLDING PARSON
THE Rev。 James Wilson was a native of the State of Connecticut；
where he was educated for the ministry in the Methodist persuasion。 His
father was a strict follower of John Wesley； and spared no pains in his
son's education； with the hope that he would one day be as renowned as
the leader of his sect。 James had scarcely finished his education at New
Haven； when he was invited by an uncle； then on a visit to his father； to
spend a few months at Natchez in Mississippi。 Young Wilson accepted
his uncle's invitation； and accompanied him to the South。 Few young men；
and especially clergymen； going fresh from college to the South； but are
looked upon as geniuses in a small way； and who are not invited to all the
parties in the neighborhood。 Mr。 Wilson was not an exception to this rule。
The society into which he was thrown； on his arrival at Natchez； was too
brilliant for him not to be captivated by it； and； as might have been
expected； he succeeded in captivating a plantation with seventy slaves if
not the heart of the lady to whom it belonged。
Added to this； he became a popular preacher； and had a large
congregation with a snug salary。 Like other planters； Mr。 Wilson
confided the care of his farm to Ned Huckelby； an overseer of high
reputation in his way。
The Poplar Farm； as it was called； was situated in a beautiful valley；
nine miles from Natchez； and near the Mississippi River。 The once
unshorn face of nature had given way； and the farm now blossomed with a
splendid harvest。 The neat cottage stood in a grove； where Lombardy
poplars lift their tops almost to prop the skies； where the willow； locust；
and horse…chestnut trees spread forth their branches； and flowers never
ceased to blossom。
This was the parson's country residence； where the family spent only
two months during the year。 His town residence was a fine villa； seated
on the